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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Done for another year

Well my friends, VBS is over for another year. It exhausts me, yet brings me such joy at the same time. We had our program in church this morning and the children all did such a wonderful job...and they got me in trouble too!

I always do something silly if the children bring friends and reach a certain attendance number. This year I told them I would hula-hoop. My mom and I had a thing going all week with the kids that she was going to get mad at me if I hula'd in church...so of course when I was done this morning she came down the aisle and used my FULL name!! (You all know you are in real trouble when the full name gets used). She then scolded me and took me out of the sanctuary saying I had to go sit in the naughty chair...all this to the delight of the children! THEN the kids went and tattled on me when I got out of the chair! LOL Oh, it was such a great time!

We ended the week this evening with a pot-luck down at the park followed by ice cream sundaes. I know I've said it many times before, but you just can't beat small town living!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Cleaning Bug



This so applies to me!

Well dear friend, there is a bug in my house and I fully intend to take advantage of her visit....I'm talking about the ever elusive cleaning bug! She doesn't make a stop at my house all that often, however, I am embracing her visit with open arms. We sat down together this morning with pen and notebook and pretty much filled the front and back of a sheet of paper with the items we would like to accomplish while she is here.

Tomorrow, my day is completely empty ( I know, what's up with that??!) except for lunch with a dear friend. My bug friend and I are going to get an early start on our list and work straight through the day on it. Our goal is to have at least half of it done by the time we turn in for the night.

Due to previous plans, we may not get gobs of time on Sunday, but we're going to give it our best shot on getting the entire list done this weekend!

Hmmm...if my bug friend and I achieve this goal, I must reward us in some way. I'll have to put my thinking cap on about that. Maybe I'll let Papa Bear treat me to dinner out .

Well, off I go, I'll report back to you all on Monday how it went 'cause I'm sure you'll all be sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Death of soldier

I am posting this in hopes that the person/people responsible for the death of this young man will be found. This hits very close to home for a dear friend of mine.

DENVER (CBS4) – A Fort Carson soldier was shot to death on the streets of Denver on Saturday. On Tuesday his parents asked the public to help them find whoever killed him.

Sgt. Anthony Silva, 25, was walking his dog in the 3800 block of Paris Street when he was shot several times. He had been staying at a nearby Motel 6 along Interstate 70 waiting for his father pick him up and drive with him to Illinois.

Silva’s family said they have no reason to believe anyone was specifically trying to target Silva. They believe it was a random crime.


Police haven’t revealed much about the shooting, but they are asking for any witnesses to come forward.

Silva was about to complete his service in the Army after 5 years. He had hurt his back and was leaving the Army for medical reasons. His family said it’s ironic that he spent so much time fighting overseas only to get shot on the street in the U.S.

“He just got out of the Army on Thursday. He was on a leave until he was going to be discharged in August. He was coming home and he had such plans to start his new life as a civilian,” said Diane Silva, Anthony’s mother. “Now it’s the end instead of a new beginning. And he was such a friendly, fun-loving guy with the greatest smile. He loved his dog, he loved his family, he loved his friends. He’s going to be missed so much.”


A makeshift memorial put up by the Silva family at the location Anthony was shot.

While the family was giving the news conference, Diane Silva received a cellphone call that was a reminder that their hometown was holding a prayer service at that moment for Anthony. She broke out in tears at the news.

“He was looking forward to a brand-new start, resuming friendships, going to school,” said Dave Silva, Anthony’s father.

Diane Silva said the streets in their town were lined with American flags to welcome Anthony home.

Anthony’s brother, Joe, is 19-years-old and had been waiting to spend time with his brother again.

“He’s a great guy. He was about to come home. He’s been gone for the last five years and (we had) a lot of catching up to do on the brotherly activities,” Joe Silva said.

The family has collected reward money from friends back home to add to the $2,000 being offered by Crime Stoppers. They say the reward for information is now up to about $5,000.

Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police at (720) 913-2000. Remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com

Wednesday's Word

"Give at least two warnings to the person who causes divisions, and then have nothing more to do with him".

Titus 3:10

Monday, July 25, 2011

VBS Week

It's that time of the year again. Time for the church to be decorated in some crazy fashion. Time for gobs of cookies appearing in the basement. Time for the towns-people to volunteer at church. Time for wiggling, giggling, excited children to fill the church up. Yes, dear friend, it's Vacation Bible School time!

I just LOVE this time of year! The looks on the children's faces as they come in. The excited chatter as they wait for the program to start. The laughing, the singing...did I mention the cookies?

We have a wonderful group of ladies that put VBS on each year. We all have our own little part we do. And you all know how it is in a small church, once you start doing something, you are there for life! I started a new part this year to go along with my regular part. My new part was decorations. My friends Alicia, Kathy and Sherri answered my anxious plea for help when it was discovered there was a decorations mix up less than a week before VBS started. I don't even know what I got anxious about, the ladies all did a wonderful job and the place looks great.

My regular part is the opening and closing. Basically it's my job to get the kids all wound up and then send them off to someone else....imagine that, ME getting kids wound up! Who'd of ever thought that to be possible?

Tonight was the first night and it seemed to go off without a hitch. Each year I do something silly in the church service on Sunday morning if they reach a goal of a certain amount of children attending...of course I always make it an attainable goal. This year I'm going to stand up in the front of the church and do the hula-hoop!

See what I mean, who would ever think I could get kids wound up??

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Quote of the Decade

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government can not pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that, "the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”


-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Wednesday's Word (a day late)



It came to my attention (via message from my dear friend Laurie) that I neglected to post Wednesday's Word yesterday. *sigh* I will go put myself in the corner for being a slacker when I'm done there...but I'm taking cookies with me!


But you, brothers, must not become tired of doing good. It may be that someone there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of him and have nothing to do with him, so that he will be ashamed. But do not treat him as an enemy; instead, warn him as a brother.

2Thessalonians 3:13-15

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Banana Boat

While at Boy Scout camp, one of the incredible staff members stopped by for a visit and to share in our dutch oven banana bread. She shared a recipe with me for Banana Boats and I think I have fallen in love! This is so simple that it can be done even in the house in the oven.

1 banana
tin foil to wrap it
stuffers of your choice

Leave peal on banana and make a slice from one end to the other, careful not to slice all the way through. Insert into this slit your stuffers (small pieces of chocolate, marshmallow, caramel...etc.). Wrap banana in tin foil and place on hot coals. Remove after about 5 minutes. Open foil, grab your spoon and eat all the yummy goodness waiting for you inside that banana peal!

Friday, July 15, 2011

No meetings?!

Is it true? Did I miss something? I checked and double checked my calender but don't seem to be able to find anything. I had an entire work week and not one single meeting! You heard me right...I was able to be home every night this week if I wanted. Well, Wednesday should have been Community Club, but it was cancelled. Thursday was a meeting that I could have gone to but it's no real biggy that I didn't. Thus, I was able to see my husband every night this week! What is doubly nice is that Little Bear (aka Ben) is home from Kansas for a visit and we have been able to spend some time together. *sigh* I am a happy little girl now.

The weekend is looking promising also. I have a Boy Scout fundraising cook-out Saturday for about four hours, and of course Church on Sunday...but the rest of it is all my time! I sure am hoping Papa Bear and I can get out for a ride on the bike before the heat comes in.

So, this is how life can be, I think I'm liking it!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wednesday's Word




A prayer for protection

Listen to my words, O Lord, and hear my sighs. Listen to my cry for help, my God and king!

I pray to you, O Lord; you hear my voice in the morning; at sunrise I offer my prayer and wait for your answer.

You are not a God who is pleased with wrongdoing; you allow no evil in your presence. You cannot stand the sight of proud men; you hate all wicked people. You destroy all liars and despise violent, deceitful men.

But because of your great love I can come into your house; I can worship in your holy Temple and bow down to you in reverence. Lord, I have so many enemies! Lead me to do your will; make your way plain for me to follow. What my enemies say can never be trusted; they only want to destroy. Their words are flattering and smooth, but full of deadly deceit. Condemn and punish them, O God; may their own plots cause their ruin. Drive them out of your presence because of their many sins and rebellion against you.

But all who find safety in you will rejoice; they can always sing for joy. Protect those who love you; because of you they are truly happy. You bless those who obey you, Lord; your love protects them like a shield.

Psalms 5:1-12

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Treat night

It's late and I should be in bed, but had to take a moment to share my special treat with you all. I got to have two of the grandkids over for a sleep-over!

We went shopping for ball gloves to stay here at our house. The boys got a chance to see their Uncle Benner who moved to Kansas in February...they just love him. We went for a bike ride, they had a fun playing bath and then a nice big supper. The youngest and I played while the oldest was allowed 1/2 hour of computer time to play on Lego.com.

Of course, come 10:00pm when they were both a bit fidgety in bed, I was regretting spoiling them with a soda at 8:00pm.

*sigh* I just love being Nana!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Home from Camp

Well, Dear Friends, once again a great time was had by all at Boy Scout summer camp. Except for a few sprinkles, it was a rain free week. Temperatures also co-operated with us. (Thank you, Lord).

The boys cooked almost all of our meals. They had to walk up to the commissary before each meal (that would be 6:00 am for breakfast) to pick up the meal supplies. The first breakfast was very slow, almost making them late to their first merit badge class. They did improve after that though. There were 12 Troops (250 boys) at camp while we were there and there were only 2 of us doing jambo (cooking our own meals). It's a great opportunity for us to spend some down time together as a troop. Talk about what everyone has been up to. Go over plans for the rest of the day. Watch the boys be complete goofs.

We shared a campsite with Walnut's Troop again this year. The boys seem to enjoy it and I enjoy learning from their Scout Master, Ron. It also gives us 4 adults in camp instead of just 2. Twice as many eyes to watch for naughtiness. LOL

There are platform tents on our site. They are basically a wooden platform with a wall tent on top. This means they are not fully enclosed...so bugs and critters can come in if they so choose. Believe me, they chose to come in my tent all the time! I'm thinking my platform had a mouse nest under it as I was visited by a herd of mice every night! On one particular evening, they pulled my make-up bag and belt out of my shower bag and then tried to take off with my cell phone!!

Ron, Walnut's leader, and one of his older scouts decided to help me with my mouse problem....they put marshmallows outside my tent and up the stairs into it. Their justification for this is that the raccoons would keep the mice out!!! I seriously laid on my cot not moving for almost 1 1/2 hours due to a raccoon invasion! Oh yeah, they thought they were real funny!

The boys learned to do a 'gravity check'. It involves running and jumping. If they fall to the ground, gravity is still working. They actually thought this was fun. So, if you know Austin, Terry, Trevor or Devin and see them, ask them to do a gravity check for you.

I'm very proud of my boys and their accomplishments. They all went to camp as Tenderfoots and left as 1st Class. They all earned their fingerprinting merit badge. Devin earned his archery badge while Terry, Austin and Trevor only need to catch and fillet a fish for me to finish their fishing badge. All 4 boys earned their Greenhorn and On my Honor rockers also. AND, they got a 100% on site inspection their first year there!! This is a difficult thing for jambo troops to earn as there is so much more to be inspected. Did I happen to mention how proud I am of them?!

Now that they have their first year of camp under their belts, they've already started making plans for next year. I'm looking forward to using some of the new ideas I got when we do our weekend campouts.

Is your son is scouting? If not, contact me and I can help you out with that. Cub and Boy Scouts is a wonderful organization that helps boys channel their energies into positive directions.